Share the bounty… of knowledge, passion and skills…

1- Host a picnic -

Your theme: Over the fence. Your guests: At least 4 neighbors, with preference to neighbors you do not know very well yet. Your mission: Fire up the grill, share the bounty of the garden, talk, laugh, share gardening tips, life stories, wisdom and  jokes. One condition: Your guests will take turns hosting a picnic at a time of their choice this summer, to which they will invite neighbors they do not know well yet.

2- Host a chef’s workshop -

You have mastered the art of the smoothie or the art of canning. Get playful invitation cards. Hand-deliver them to neighbors who have just recently started gardening. Invite them to a friendly “how-to” workshop. They must bring their own produce and you will supply some as well. Share your favorite smoothie combinations, discuss companion flavors and storage tips, explain the canning process and, most importantly, convey your passion.

3- Start a garden show -

Well, not literally. This time, instead of inviting neighbors over, offer your services in their own garden. You’ll want to identify community members who are new to gardening. Offer to share your own gardening secrets. Set a time and bring your wheelbarrow filled with your favorite, most indispensable gardening tools. Bring a jug of iced tea and a garden seat. Begin by asking what baffles them most. Go from there. Let your passion speak.

4- Start a neighborhood garden and kitchen swap -

No, you are not going to swap living quarters, though sometimes I think that could be a fun and even enlightening thing to do. Instead of having a yard sale to trim down the kitchen or workshop, host a swap. You never know what will show up.

Sometimes it is difficult to let go of things, but when you know that it will have significance to someone else as much as it did for you, it makes giving something away a lot more meaningful and rewarding. You have two blenders? Give one away. A young neighbor with limited funds may discover great joy in the kitchen thanks to the one appliance she dreamed of but could not afford. This is the sort of “great find” that can literally change a life. She may in turn bring along a colorful garden seat/tool tote that makes your eyes open wide. It is just the thing you need. It so happens you like to paint in the garden and this garden seat with convenient storage pockets is perfect for your painting supplies, and you find it inspiring too.

5- Hire a young gardener or chef -

Invite your neighbor’s children and teens to make a few dollars while helping you in the garden or kitchen. It does not have to be a full-blown summer job; just a bit of help here and there. This will be a great experience in socialization and skills learning. Giving them a few dollars for their efforts is fair and honors their accomplishments and the value of their assistance (even if you are just pretending to need help).

Do one thing at a time. In the garden, show them how to use the cultivator, give them a goal to take on the task for 30 minutes or an hour and walk away. This is your way of expressing trust. Do not expect perfection. The perfection is in the act of doing, not in the outcome.

The same applies in the kitchen. Demonstrate a simple task and let the child complete it. It could be as simple as slicing the fruit for a canning project or filling each jar in the proper manner for the process. Make sure to send them home with a jar of their own to proudly share, in addition to a few dollars. Again, the financial reward is symbolic. It is an acknowledgment of the child’s value in your eyes.

6- Make up your own variation – What will it be?